Providus Bank launches programme to boost Africa’s SMEs’ global trades
Providus Bank has commenced its ‘Training to Transaction (T2T) Programme’, a flagship initiative designed to accelerate Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participation in global trades. The programme which is
Providus Bank has commenced its ‘Training to Transaction (T2T) Programme’, a flagship initiative designed to accelerate Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participation in global trades.
The programme which is in partnership with Borderless Trade and Investment, Duchess NL, and the Global African Business Association, under the ECOWAS Parliament at 25 Programme, is positioned as a strategic intervention in Africa’s trade ecosystem.
Head, Global Trade and Structured Finance, Providus Bank, Dr. Biodun Ariyo said the T2T Programme addresses a persistent gap- the disconnect between training and actual transaction execution.
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According to him, through a structured blend of practical capacity building, compliance alignment, and direct market access, the programme enables SMEs to move beyond preparation and into measurable trade outcomes across global markets.
He said financial institutions also have a crucial role in supporting regional trade growth, and banks are now partnering with regional institutions to expand trade financing and facilitate cross-border transactions among businesses.
Head, Strategy & Innovation, Providus Bank, Ernest Elue, said Providus Bank believes that sustainable economic growth is driven not just by preparing businesses, but by enabling them to perform.
“The T2T Programme reflects our commitment to transforming potential into productivity, by equipping African SMEs with the tools, standards, and access required to compete and transact globally,” Elue said.
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He explained that the programme offers participating businesses hands-on export readiness and transaction execution support, guidance on international regulatory and compliance requirements and structured access pathways into markets across Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United Kingdom
He noted that the T2T Programme was targeted at high-growth sectors with strong export potential, including agro and agro-processing, cosmetics, beverages, garment making and textiles, and leather and tanning.
He said the initiative underscored Providus Bank’s broader strategy to catalyse trade-led economic expansion by empowering indigenous enterprises to scale beyond local markets and integrate into global value chains.
He added that the programme reflected the bank’s continued role as a facilitator of enterprise growth, cross-border trade, and sustainable economic development.
